If you are wondering how to clean a fur coat from thrift store after bringing home a vintage or secondhand find, the first step is not putting it in the washing machine. You need to determine whether the coat is made from real fur or faux fur, check its care label, and then choose a cleaning method that matches the material.
That distinction matters because real fur has a leather hide underneath the hair, while faux fur is generally made from synthetic fibers attached to a textile backing. The two materials can react very differently to water, detergents, heat and agitation.
For thrifted clothing in general, the American Cleaning Institute recommends checking the care label first because coats and other specialty garments may require professional cleaning rather than ordinary laundering.
For shoppers dealing with a faux fur coat, the situation is usually much easier. If the care label allows washing, gentle cleaning with cool water, careful handling and air drying can help remove the musty smell and surface dirt without destroying the soft pile.
Before You Clean a Thrift Store Fur Coat, Identify the Material
Before searching for how to clean a fur coat from thrift store, establish what you actually bought.
Look inside the coat for:
- A fabric-content label
- A care label
- Brand information
- Material descriptions such as polyester or acrylic
- Instructions such as hand wash, dry clean or do not wash
Care symbols are designed to communicate the maximum treatment a textile can withstand without irreversible damage. GINETEX explains that care instructions cover washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and professional textile care.
If the label says faux fur, synthetic fur or lists synthetic fibers, you can follow the manufacturer’s instructions for that particular garment.
If the coat appears to be real fur and you cannot confidently determine how it should be cleaned, don’t experiment with household laundry products. Real fur requires different handling because the underlying hide can be damaged by inappropriate moisture and cleaning methods.
Why the distinction matters
A thrift store coat may look like ordinary clothing, but fur construction makes it more delicate.
A faux fur coat can potentially be hand-washed if the care instructions permit it. A vintage real-fur coat may require a professional fur specialist instead.
So, the first rule is simple:
Do not clean an unidentified fur coat until you know what material you are dealing with.
How to Clean a Fur Coat From Thrift Store: Start With Inspection
Once you know the material, inspect the coat before getting it wet.
Look for:
- Dirt around cuffs and pockets
- Makeup around the collar
- Food stains
- Flattened fur
- Tangled or matted fibers
- Tears in the lining
- Loose seams
- Unusual odors
- Signs of moisture damage
- Insect damage
- Brittle or deteriorating areas
Check the pockets too. Empty them completely before cleaning.
This inspection is especially important with secondhand clothing because you don’t know exactly how the garment was stored or treated before you purchased it.
If the coat has significant structural damage, a strong chemical odor, mold-like growth or a damaged backing, stop before attempting a full wash.
How to Clean a Thrifted Faux Fur Coat at Home
If your thrifted coat is faux fur and its care label allows hand washing, you can generally take a gentle approach.
Step 1: Brush the Coat Before Washing
Take the coat outside or work in a well-ventilated area.
Shake it gently to remove loose dust. Then use a soft-bristle brush or wide-tooth comb to loosen surface debris.
Don’t aggressively brush through tangled sections.
The objective at this stage is simply to remove loose particles before introducing water.
Step 2: Test a Hidden Area
Before applying any cleaning solution to the visible fur, test a small hidden area.
A good location is the inside edge of the garment or another inconspicuous section.
Check for:
- Color transfer
- Texture changes
- Matting
- Discoloration
- Backing damage
If the material reacts badly, stop.
Step 3: Use Cool Water
If the care label permits hand washing, fill a clean basin or bathtub with cool water.
Avoid hot water.
Faux fur is made from synthetic fibers, and excessive heat can distort or damage those fibers. Some faux-fur care instructions specifically recommend cold hand washing and drying away from heat.
Add a small amount of mild detergent appropriate for delicate clothing.
You do not need a large amount of detergent to clean the coat.
Step 4: Gently Clean the Coat
Place the coat into the water and carefully move it through the water.
Do not aggressively scrub the fur.
Do not twist it.
Do not wring it.
Do not repeatedly knead the fur like a towel.
Excessive mechanical action can tangle the pile and put unnecessary stress on the backing.
GINETEX’s guidance for delicate hand washing similarly emphasizes careful agitation and avoiding rubbing, pulling and wringing.
Step 5: Rinse Thoroughly
Drain the dirty water and rinse the coat using cool, clean water.
Continue until the detergent has been removed.
Do not leave large amounts of detergent inside the fibers because residue can affect the feel and appearance of the coat.
Step 6: Remove Excess Water Carefully
This is one of the most important parts of how to clean a fur coat from thrift store safely.
Never twist a wet faux fur coat to squeeze it dry.
Instead, gently press out excess water.
You can also place the coat on a clean towel, roll the towel around it and press gently to absorb moisture.
The goal is to remove water without stretching the garment or crushing the fur.
How to Dry a Thrifted Faux Fur Coat
Drying is just as important as washing.
Do not put faux fur into a heated dryer unless the garment’s care instructions specifically permit it.
Avoid:
- Radiators
- Space heaters
- Direct high heat
- Hot hair dryers
- Irons
- Other direct heat sources
Heat can damage synthetic fibers and change the texture of faux fur.
Instead, allow the coat to air dry according to its care instructions in a well-ventilated location away from intense heat and direct sunlight.
If the coat is heavy when wet, make sure it is supported appropriately so its shape is not distorted.
Do not brush aggressively while the fur is still wet.
Wait until the coat is completely dry.
How to Remove Thrift Store Smell From a Fur Coat
Sometimes the biggest problem isn’t dirt. It’s the smell.
A thrifted coat may have absorbed odors from storage, smoke, perfume or other garments.
Before reaching for strong chemicals, give the coat time to air out.
Hang it somewhere cool and well ventilated, preferably away from direct sunlight and moisture.
For faux fur, a light application of baking soda can sometimes help with lingering odors, but test the material first and avoid saturating the garment with household products.
Never try to cover a strong odor simply by spraying perfume directly onto the fur.
Perfume doesn’t actually remove the source of the smell, and adding another fragrance can make the problem more difficult to resolve.
If the odor is unusually strong or persists after appropriate cleaning and airing, professional cleaning may be the safer choice.
How to Remove Small Stains From Faux Fur
If the entire coat isn’t dirty, don’t automatically wash the entire garment.
Spot cleaning can be the better approach.
For a small stain:
- Remove any excess material carefully.
- Use a clean cloth dampened with cool water.
- Apply a very small amount of appropriate mild detergent if the care label permits it.
- Dab the affected area instead of aggressively rubbing it.
- Remove detergent residue with another clean, damp cloth.
- Allow the area to air dry completely.
- Once dry, gently brush the pile back into shape.
Always test the cleaning method somewhere inconspicuous first.
For an unknown stain, especially on a valuable vintage garment, professional advice may be preferable to experimenting with bleach, stain removers or household solvents.
What About Real Fur?
This is where the answer to how to clean a fur coat from thrift store changes completely.
If you discover that the coat is genuine animal fur, don’t assume that the faux-fur method above is appropriate.
Real fur contains an animal hide beneath the hair. Water, detergents, heat and inappropriate cleaning methods can damage the hide and hair.
A genuine vintage fur coat should be assessed by a professional fur cleaner or furrier when it needs substantial cleaning.
At home, avoid experimenting with washing-machine cycles, ordinary laundry detergent or heated drying.
If you are unsure whether the garment is real or faux fur, get it identified before proceeding.
Can Fur Coats Get Wet?
The answer depends on the type of fur.
A small amount of moisture does not automatically mean a coat is ruined, but deliberately soaking a fur garment without knowing its material and care instructions is a different matter.
For faux fur, follow the manufacturer’s care label. For real fur, avoid treating it like washable synthetic clothing.
The same principle applies to rain.
If you’re asking can you wear fur in the rain, consider both the material and the garment’s construction. Light exposure to rain is different from completely soaking the coat, and repeated moisture can create problems if the garment is not designed to handle it.
When you know you’ll be spending significant time in wet weather, a weather-appropriate outer layer is a safer choice than intentionally exposing delicate fur to heavy rain.
How to Restore Flattened Faux Fur After Cleaning
A thrifted coat may look flat even after it has been cleaned.
Don’t assume it is permanently damaged.
Once the faux fur is completely dry, gently brush the fibers in the direction of the pile.
A wide-tooth comb or soft brush can help separate fibers that became compressed.
Work slowly.
If a section is severely matted, don’t attack it with force. Pulling aggressively can remove fibers or damage the backing.
For future care, avoid crushing the coat under heavy clothing or storing it tightly packed in a small space.
Proper storage can make a significant difference in how the pile looks between wears.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When learning how to clean a fur coat from thrift store, these are some of the easiest mistakes to make:
Using hot water
Hot water can be unnecessarily harsh on synthetic fibers and delicate garment construction.
Putting faux fur in a hot dryer
Heat can damage synthetic fibers and permanently change their texture.
Wringing the coat
Twisting a wet coat can stretch the fabric and distort the fur.
Scrubbing aggressively
Hard rubbing can create tangling, matting and uneven texture.
Using too much detergent
More detergent does not automatically mean a cleaner coat.
Spraying perfume directly onto the fur
This masks odors rather than solving the underlying problem.
Ignoring the care label
The care label is one of the most useful pieces of information you have.
Is Buying a New Faux Fur Coat Easier Than Thrifting One?
There is nothing wrong with buying secondhand. In fact, finding an interesting vintage coat can be part of the fun of thrifting.
But there is another side to the equation.
When you buy a thrift-store fur coat, you may need to spend additional time identifying the material, removing odors, cleaning stains, repairing damage and restoring the pile.
You also don’t always know how the garment was stored or maintained.
If you’re looking for the appearance of fur without the uncertainty of a secondhand garment, buying a new faux fur coat can be a much simpler option.
At Faux Fur World, our focus is new faux fur coats, jackets and winter outerwear, giving shoppers an alternative to searching through thrift stores for a wearable piece.
We position Faux Fur World as the most affordable option in the premium faux fur market, so shoppers who want a polished faux fur look don’t necessarily have to assume that secondhand is the only way to find an affordable coat.
In other words, before spending hours cleaning a thrifted coat or paying for professional cleaning and repairs compare the total cost with a new faux fur option.
Sometimes the supposedly cheaper thrift-store purchase isn’t cheaper after all.
How to Keep Your Faux Fur Coat Clean After Washing
Once you’ve successfully cleaned your coat, prevention is easier than repeating the entire process.
Brush the fur gently when necessary.
Don’t store it compressed under heavy clothing.
Give it enough room to maintain its shape.
Avoid unnecessary exposure to rain, food, cosmetics and substances that can transfer onto the fibers.
If you spill something, deal with it promptly rather than allowing it to sit and become harder to remove.
And always follow the care instructions supplied with the particular garment.
If you’re interested in garment construction and want to learn another useful clothing skill, you can also explore our guide on How to Sew a Fur Coat.
Final Takeaway
The safest answer to how to clean a fur coat from thrift store is: identify the material first, read the care label, and use the least aggressive cleaning method that safely addresses the problem.
For a washable faux fur coat, cool water, gentle detergent, careful handling and air drying can be appropriate when the manufacturer’s instructions allow it.
For genuine fur or an unidentified vintage coat, don’t experiment. Professional cleaning may be the safer route.
And if the amount of cleaning, deodorizing and repair required makes your thrift-store find less attractive, remember that you don’t have to buy secondhand to enjoy the look.
Faux Fur World offers new faux fur coats and jackets for shoppers who want a fresh, ready-to-wear alternative at accessible pricing, with our brand positioned as the most affordable in the premium faux fur market.
Sometimes the easiest way to avoid cleaning an old fur coat is simply to start with a new one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can you wash a fur coat from a thrift store?
It depends on whether the coat is real fur or faux fur and what its care label says. Washable faux fur may be hand-washed with cool water, while genuine fur generally requires specialist care.
Q. How do you clean a thrifted faux fur coat?
Check the care label, brush away loose dirt, test a hidden area, and if washing is permitted, use cool water and mild detergent with gentle handling. Never wring the coat and avoid damaging heat.
Q. How do you get thrift-store smell out of a fur coat?
Start by airing the coat in a well-ventilated area. For faux fur, appropriate deodorizing methods can be used after testing the material. Avoid simply covering strong odors with perfume.
Q. Can faux fur get wet?
Faux fur can sometimes be washed or exposed to water depending on its construction and care instructions. Always check the garment’s label before soaking it.
Q. Can you put a faux fur coat in the dryer?
Do not assume that a dryer is safe. Many faux-fur care instructions recommend keeping the garment away from heat, so check the manufacturer’s care instructions before using any heated drying method.
[…] a deeper practical guide, see How to Clean a Fur Coat From Thrift Store, which can help you understand what to check and how to approach a secondhand coat before wearing […]
Comments are closed.